- Title: CHILE-EDUCATION/PROTEST Thousands march in Chilean capital over education reforms
- Date: 17th June 2015
- Summary: SANTIAGO, CHILE (JUNE 17, 2015) (REUTERS) STUDENTS AND TEACHERS MARCH WITH CHILEAN FLAGS AND PLACARDS PROTESTERS CARRYING HUGE CHILEAN FLAG IN MARCH PROTESTERS CARRYING PLACARDS WITH PHOTOS OF MINISTERS AND CHILEAN SOCCER PLAYERS IN REFERENCE TO THE COPA AMERICA TAKING PLACE IN CHILE AS WELL AS AN OLD IRAQI FLAG WITH ISLAMIC STATE FLAG EMBROIDERED ON TOP PROTESTERS CARRYIN
- Embargoed: 2nd July 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Chile
- Country: Chile
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA5Z7L3W8S8843840I6TW1BOHO7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Tens of thousands of teachers and students protested in Santiago on Wednesday (June 17) against a new testing measure amid Chilean President Michelle Bachelet's wide-ranging education reform.
The march, which was authorised by the metropolitan government, took place amid an indefinite teachers' strike called on June 1 by the College of Chilean Teachers.
According to government figures, 2,200 schools have been affected by the strikes.
A reported 60.3 percent of citizens support the strike, according to a survey carried out by local radio station Cooperativa, Imaginacion Consultants and the Central University, published on Wednesday.
Protesters marched with huge Chilean flags and soccer shirts, in reference to the city's focus on the Copa America currently underway. The protesters came out to demonstrate against new mandates requiring new testing for teachers.
After a peaceful beginning, the movement became more tumultuous with students throwing rocks and sticks at the police, who in turn fired water cannon and tear gas.
The violence comes as President Michelle Bachelet looks to regulate teacher pay and bring public schools, now managed and financed by townships, under national jurisdiction in a wide-ranging reform that is supported by many in the sector. Bachelet is also looking to make university education free.
But students and teachers say they have not been consulted on the changes in testing and are demanding a greater say.
"The government is pushing its bill through parliament without the support of the teachers. There are certain points which we teachers need the government to listen to. As they continue not to, we will continue to hold and indefinite strike," school teacher, Carola Muena, told Reuters.
Earlier this year, Chile's Congress approved the first batch of Bachelet's ambitious education reform which includes an end to profits at state-subsidised schools and eliminates their selective entrance policies. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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